On Friday night, Jiang Zhao, legal representative of Chongqing Dongfang Shipping Company that owns the Eastern Star, apologised to all the victims and their families and promised to cooperate with any investigation.

The 76.5-metre vessel had been in service for nearly 20 years and can carry up to 534 people.

It went through an annual maintenance in 2014, and was qualified to cruise until April 25, 2016, according to Jiang.

Over 3,400 soldiers and 1,700 police together with 149 vessels and a helicopter have taken part in the rescue mission.